The Liberal Democrats have unveiled a bold proposal to require housing developers in England to ensure GP services are operational before residents move into new homes. The party plans to introduce legislation that would compel developers to fund, construct, or expand existing GP surgeries in time for new arrivals.
Under the plan, local authorities and NHS boards would be tasked with identifying where additional GP capacity is needed to support new housing developments. Funding would come from taxes levied on developers, which would cover not only the physical infrastructure but also contracts to ensure doctors are available to staff the surgeries from day one.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating, "Too often new developments don't come with the services and infrastructure they need. Our policy would get new or expanded GP surgeries up and running to serve new developments, right from the moment the first homes are sold."
The proposal comes amid concerns about existing developer contributions going unspent. Recent research by the Home Builders Federation estimated that local authorities in England and Wales have left more than £9 billion of developer contributions intended for essential local infrastructure unused.
Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the HBF, warned that the unspent funds highlight "a capacity crisis in local government" that should concern both communities and ministers.
The policy has drawn criticism from some quarters. Simon Clarke, director of the Onward think tank and a former Conservative minister, called the proposal "totally mad" and questioned its potential impact on housebuilding, which he noted is already at "a record, devastating low."
The debate unfolds against the backdrop of the Labour government's pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029. However, housebuilders have warned that the government may miss this target, with new home starts falling from 207,000 to 139,000 after Labour took office—the lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The BBC has reached out to Labour, the Conservatives, the Green Party, and Reform UK for comment on the Lib Dem proposal.